600 years before Christ, the prophet Jeremiah was given a message of hope for the Jewish people in exile. That message rings true today for all of us.

I woke up today with thoughts about my past. I lay there thinking of childhood traumas, proud achievements, misdeeds, a collage of Christine. It was a different experience and I wondered about it. I’m still wondering, but the experience turned my thoughts to my currently favororite scripture. I refer to it a lot and have printed it out for some of my friends and family. The hope Jeremiah gave to people so long ago is still the same hope that God offers to us today. The scripture, Jeremiah 29: 11-14, reads thus:

“I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the Lord, and I will change your lot.”

I was 35 years old when that scripture first became real to me. The consequences of finding the Lord with me have amounted to changes I never would have imagined. Sometimes when I look back as I did this morning, I can tell when I have trusted the God I found and when I have not. When I allow God to work, things change for the better. (There’s a new book here if I get busy,) When I try to go it alone, things aren’t so great. I mess things up and then have to work out of the difficulties. I don’t like that type of phase in my life.

At this time of making resolutions, my resolution and hope for this new year, is to seek the Lord more and to listen to the still, small voice that guides in the midst of life’s daily encounters. I wish same peace that this brings to all of you. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Great stuff! That “collage” of experiences of which you spoke is a “college” where we learn. On a light note, they say that experience is the worst teacher. It gives you the test and then it teaches you the lesson. Lol.